I was working so I didn’t see it but from all the press on it I feel like I’ve watched it multiple times. I’m talking about the Notre Dame comeback over Michigan State.

The Irish were down 31-14 at halftime. They went on to score 19 points in the 4^th quarter to beat the Spartans 40-37.

Now I know this was a tremendous comeback especially when you consider the fact that Notre Dame was taken behind the woodshed by Michigan the week before. However, people let’s let this go. I know it’s Notre Dame and they’re a legendary program and all but can we please get off their dick now.

It’s no secret that I am not a fan of Notre Dame. I think it started when they got their own network (NBC), and Beano “the idiot” Cook a College Football historian and former analyst on ESPN went on to proclaim that Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus would win two Heisman Trophies and win a couple National Titles. None of which became true. So when you add on the comeback victory against Michigan State it gives all these people who love to love Notre Dame one more thing to throw onto the legend.

Personally I’m annoyed. First off Notre Dame, join the Big 10…I am mean Big 11 already. You play half these guys anyway. Also, if you want to be considered the best stop with the special treatment. For the uneducated here’s what I mean: If Notre Dame has a certain record and a certain ranking they HAVE to be in the Bowl Championship Series or BCS. They could in theory play 12 cupcake teams and waltz into the National Title picture. They would never do that of course but they could because they are not in a conference. Personally I think that’s a little shallow. This automatic berth is unfair to other teams all around the country in the big and small conferences.

In the end I congratulate Notre Dame for their victory but like many other things, I ask the media to show some restraint and get off Notre Dame’s dick.

I haven’t written much lately because I’ve been busy. No seriously I’ve been like crazy busy.

I spent the week in Anaheim, Ca over by Disneyland. The only magical kingdom I am seeing is that of wireless networks and laptops. How did mobile productions get done before? How did people get events done without laptops, VPN’s, and wi fi connections?

Portability can be king but it still has a long way to go. From upload speeds to reliability to security-there is a lot that still needs to be done before it goes from the business level to the consumer level.

I have to say business trips really are that me. Granted I could give a damn about seeing or doing anything in the Anaheim area even if I did have the time. No offense to those of you who like Disneyland and stuff but I’ve been there and done that and I was never a fan.

In the meantime work went well. Look for the UFC to be featured on 60 Minutes in a few weeks and probably in a documentary too. If last night’s pres conference was any indication there are ‘big plans for the next five years.’ So hopefully I’ll be even busier and when I am wireless networks, compression, and upload speeds better be bigger, faster, and stronger.

Microsoft announced their "ipod killer" and its called Zune (rhymes with tune). It has three different colors, WI-FI, 30GB hard drive, FM tuner, and a 3-inch color screen. It also comes with Zune Marketplace which is going to be the kind of itunes for Zune.

What they haven't told us yet: What deals they have cut with media companies to fill this Zune Marketplace, what this wireless connection really is (WiFi or Bluetooth), and how much it will cost (some blogs put the price around $300)?

For one I am interested but I'm not sold. It looks and sounds cool but is it going to be better than my ipod? When Steve Jobs went out there earlier this week to announce the improvements to the ipod and itunes (An 80GB hard drive one is now available along with movies on itunes and a product coming out next year called itv that will bring it all together) he did it in a typical Steve Jobs fashion complete with prices, release dates, and contracts already in the can with more to come. You get none of that with Microsoft.

Could they have a superior product? Maybe but I doubt it. I need more. I need a price, contracts signed in blood so I have reason to dump the ipod and move to Zune. Why would I dump out of itunes when it is overloaded with music and video?

Microsoft has some catching up to do before I jump the ipod ship but at least they're on their way.

It was rather appropriate that I finished the book Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA’s Key Field Commander on September 10. 2006. 5 years after 9/11 and countless news stories, debate, and elections since no one knows really why we didn’t get Bin Laden in the first place. This book though at least gives some idea as to why.

The author and Key CIA Field Commander Gary Bernsten is someone I trust. Not from reading the book because in all honesty it isn’t very good and is more like a wanna be movie script then hardcore account of what happened during the initial invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11. It’s what I saw and heard from him since he wrote this book.

Bernsten was in the CIA’s Clandestine Service for more than twenty years. He, as I saw him describe himself at a reading in Los Angeles televised on C-SPAN, is the guy who comes in off the bench to get the hard foul. He comes in because he is aggressive and would rather ask forgiveness than permission. However the CIA had other plans. Bernsten’s  book was suppose to come out a long time ago but since every former employee and their mothers uncle was publishing a book about the CIA the CIA made an example out of Bernsten. They wouldn’t release the book (there is still a court case pending) then they censored the hell out it including stuff that had already been published. So in the end this is not the book that he wanted to write. Hopefully at some point he will get to write the book he wants to write.

For the censored edition, like I said it’s not very good. Bernsten tells of heroic efforts by the people on the ground to hunt down and kill members of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. He holds nothing back when it comes to that and I cannot thank him enough. He really did capture how angry he was at not only Al-Qaeda but also at the bureaucracy that stands in the way of going after them.

The book does do a tremendous job talking about the riot at Qala-i Jangi [makeshift] prison where CIA Officer Mike Spann was killed with two bullets to the head execution style(a booby-trapped Taliban body was on top of his). Bernsten also does a good job of describing the great coordination between the military and the CIA. According to the book and other sources 460 US personnel, US airpower, $70 million, and Afghan allies were all it took to take away control of Afghanistan from the Taliban.

It is safe to say that Bernsten is an overall supporter of the Bush administrations go get’em attitude towards terrorists although I bet he disagrees with some of the specifics. He said at that reading something to the effect that, ‘Embassy bombings in Africa we sent some Tomahawk missiles into Afghanistan, USS Cole bombing-no response, Khobar Towers Bombing that killed 19 servicemen-no response. Make no mistake, this President will respond.’

Bernsten in the end is not a hero but a flat out Baller. He is going in to kick some ass and get the job done. His book did incorporate enough of that to make it mildly enjoyable but if you really want to know about the history of what led up to 9/11 then read Ghost Wars. If you want to read about the initial invasion of Afghanistan then pick up First In. I have not read First In but I hope it is better written then Jawbreaker was. It’s unfortunate too because Mr. Bernsten deserves better then Jawbreaker and hopefully after all the court issues are done we can get a full book that really does Mr. Bernsten and the work he and his teams did in Afghanistan justice.

BT is more than just a DJ, more than a composer. He is in my view an artist of the 21^st century. His music is innovative, emotional, and visual (sometimes literally and sometimes not) and in the end he is one of a kind.

His last album release, EMOTIONAL TECHNOLOGY, was at the top of my list for 2003. His latest album, This Binary Universe, could be one of this year’s best too.

This Binary Universe was NOT what I was expecting. I knew that there were videos for each song but I had no idea that this was not a dance album. It’s more like a soundtrack for the next generation human or a lullaby for the sci-fi age.

The record is all instrumental and you will hear none of it on the open airwaves. One of the tracks that grabbed my attention was ‘The Internal Locus’. It’s elegant, classic, and robotic all in one. The following track ‘1.618’ jumps a bit further into technology but seems to come back to this flowing, elegant style that rides through all 7 tracks on the album.

‘The Antikythera Mechanism’ is a building epic audio tale that leaves you with the giant sign overhead saying “Introspection.” ‘Dynamic Symmetry’ and ‘Good Morning Kaia’ are both two seconds away from being bigger pop songs that could have belonged on BT’s last record but at the same time push more towards Portishead and old school Massive Attack then to BT.

This Binary Universe is about looking inside to see outside. A new child obviously changed BT’s perspective the question is will it change yours? This Binary Universe may but even if it doesn’t it belongs on your must buy list for 2006.

I’ve been in Las Vegas around 3 weeks now and for the first time I saw it rain. Well I didn’t actually see it but unless a sprinkler got out of control on top of the Stratosphere Hotel then I’m standing by my observation.

To top it off, while driving home tonight I saw lightning. No thunder just lightning. It was pretty cool even if it didn’t accompany a really bitchin’ Southern thunderstorm.

I think the coolest thing would be to be up in the Stratosphere Hotel and watch one of those things roll in at dusk, although it is like $10 just to go up in the tower.

But that is Vegas for yeah. We can take ya to the top for a price.

Flying into Vegas at night is a trip. It is very much a sight to see. This human made neon spectacle in the middle of the desert can only make your jar drop.

Over course never try to fly out of Vegas on Sunday. You’re just asking for it.

Sacramento is not much to look at from the air. It’s a typical Northern California town. Farmland and housing developments pepper the landscape. Once you get off the plane it is much better. Crystal clear sky and mild temperatures, no wonder people put up with the rest of “it” to live there. The weather is worth it.

But being able to listen to the “idiots” at a very high volume and watch Tennessee beat Cal with my parents is pretty damn cool.